Dead Startup Toys (deadstartuptoys.com)

Article summary

The article presents a collection of toy versions of failed startups, including a juicer, a social robot, and a mini-laptop, as part of MSCHF DROP #50. These toys represent the failed ventures of the mid-2010s venture capitalist experience. The article also touches on the concept of Corporate Goldschmidtism, where failed startups are seen as a form of evolutionary mutation. The toys are not meant to be a memorialization, but rather a celebration of the mutants that attempted to change the world.

Main themes

• Failed Startups
• Corporate Goldschmidtism
• Entrepreneurship
• Education Technology
• Pedagogical Theories
• Schadenfreude

What commenters say

• The inclusion of OLPC in the list of failed startups is debatable, as it was a well-intentioned project that aimed to improve education in developing countries.
• Some commenters argue that OLPC's failure was due to its overly ambitious goals and poor execution, rather than any malicious intent.
• Others point out that the failure of startups like Theranos and Coolest Cooler was more egregious due to their fraudulent or deceptive practices.
• The discussion also touches on the idea that good intentions are not enough, and that well-meaning projects can still cause harm if not properly executed.
• Some commenters defend the idea that constructionism is a valid and respected pedagogical theory, and that OLPC's approach was not entirely flawed.
• The use of toys to mock failed startups is seen as a form of schadenfreude, but also as a way to acknowledge the risks and uncertainties of entrepreneurship.
• The comparison between OLPC and other failed startups like Juicero and Theranos highlights the differences between well-intentioned failures and fraudulent or deceptive practices.